Primate of Serbian Church thanks Patriarch Kirill for hospitality during his peace visit and celebration marking 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’

His Holiness Patriarch Irenaios of Serbia, after his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church in July 2013, sent a letter of thanks to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The letter states in particular:

‘By God’s blessing and through the virtues of Your Holiness as a generous host and the selfless work of the whole Russian Orthodox Church, we made our peace visit to our most holy sister Russian Orthodox Church and also took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ by the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles’

‘… We very ardently thank Your Holiness, praying to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that He may reward you hundredfold by His blessing and the abundant grace of His Holy Spirit with every true blessing from above, granting you sound health and fullness of spiritual resources for many good years. We wish that just as today so in the future your responsible and worthy Patriarchal ministry may make true the words of the wonderful instruction: O Holy Rus, preserve the Orthodox faith as in it you are asserted!’